St. Paul's Ethic of Becoming All Things to All Men

Abstract

Two very specific cultures made up a majority of the Christian churches in the New Testament era post Christ: Jewish converts and Gentile believers. Our present day congregations are also made up of a wide variety of nationalities and cultures. Clement shows how Paul applied his own teaching of becoming all things to all men, for the sake of being able to communicate the gospel message, while at the same time not enslaving himself to these specific laws and customs. For a pastor to be able to communicate proper law and gospel to his members and to the uncharted, he needs to have this same mentality. He has to be willing to set aside his own comforts and personal interests, and instead adapt to the comforts of others. Clement offers examples from his own experiences and insights as to the different cultural dimensions a pastor might face, and how he can adapt to the situation he finds himself in.